Spider-Island Part One

This story continues from Amazing Spider-Man #668…

The people of Manhattan have suddenly started developing spider-powers. In response to this the entire island has been quarantined. However, the creature called the Spider-King is attempting to break past one of the cordons. General Brad Dodge has brought in Flash Thompson to capture the Spider-King as Agent Venom. That’s when a calls comes in from Flash from Betty Brant.

Betty is at the hospital where she has been watching over his father, Harrison Thompson. She tells him that the hospital is being evacuated except for his father as they aren’t sure if he can be moved without dying. Flash tells her that he is trapped downtown and he’ll try to get there soon. She tells him to hurry because things aren’t looking good for his father.

As Agent Venom, Flash joins the battle just as Gravity and Firestar of the Young Allies are running out of steam. However, he quickly discovers that the Spider-King is more than a match with its enhanced strength, acidic webbing and venomous bite. Flash struggles to keep his anger in check in order to keep the symbiote docile. He figures that his father would choose this very moment to start dying on him. However, he quickly comes up with a solution to defeat his opponent. Remembering how Gravity’s powers work, Agent Venom tosses the novice hero into the air. Gravity reduces his own gravity to allow himself to be thrown high into the air and then increases it so much that he comes crashing down on the Spider-King hard enough to knock the spider-creature out.

With the battle over, Agent Venom brings the Spider-King back to Project Rebirth for examination. Once there, Flash is separated from the symbiote while General Dodge, Aaron MacKenzie, and Kate Glover try to figure out what created this abomination. When they try to question the Spider-King the creature suddenly starts throwing up a horde of genetically altered spiders. Aaron quickly deduces that these spiders are carrying the spider-plague and realizes that the Spider-King was attempting to break quarantine in order to spread the infection outside of Manhattan. While the scientist is assuring them that nothing can escape the containment chamber, the Spider-King does just that, freeing himself and the infected spiders.

Despite Flash’s suggestion that they flee the symbiote, Aaron grabs his wheelchair and they all retreat back to a supply room with weapons. It’s here that General Dodge notices that his dog, Samson, was separated from them. The lock down Project Rebirth, but they all agree that their only choice is to activate the sonic -napalm sprinklers set up to destroy the symbiote to prevent infection from getting out. That’s because the German Sheppard is trapped in the lab with the Spider-King and his spiders. However, the symbiote was freed in the confusion and it takes possession of the dog. Moments later, Flash and his allies are armed up with weapons as the Spider-King breaks into their room. That’s when Samson — possessed by the symbiote — comes leaping in to defend them.

Although the Spider-King easily fights off the symbiote possessed dog, the alien creature quickly leaves it to bond with Flash again. While Agent Venom battles the Spider-King, Kate keeps the spiders away from Aaron who decides to continue examining the creature’s blood. He makes a startling discover and tells Agent Venom not to kill the Spider-King because that creature is actually Captain America.[1] With this knowledge, Venom wraps himself and the Spider-King up with a metal panel from the wall just moments after activating the sprinklers. While the sonic-napalm eradicates all of the spiders, Venom and the Spider-King are safe from harm.

With the Spider-King contained, Aaron MacKenzie begins working on a means of curing him. General Dodge has determined that the masterminds behind Spider-Island are a danger to national security and orders Agent Venom to disguise himself as the Spider-King to infiltrate and eliminate the enemy. As Flash leaves to carry out this mission, Betty tries to call him. When she gets his voice mail, she pleads with Flash to come back soon because his father doesn’t have much time left.

Spider-Island continues in Amazing Spider-Man #669…

Recurring Characters

Agent Venom, Brad Dodge, Aaron MacKenzie, Kate Glover, Betty Brant, Samson, Spider-King, Gravity, Firestar, Harrison Thompson

Continuity Notes

1. For more on how Captain America got turned into the Spider-King see Amazing Spider-Man #670.